Cuban Robles not authorized to represent another country

HAVANA, June 8 (Xinhua) -- The Cuban Athletics Federation warned that hurdler Dayron Robles, Olympic champion in Beijing 2008, is not authorized to represent any other country in the Memorial Primo Nebiolo, held on Saturday at the Italian city of Turin.

"Robles quitted from the Olympic team last year, according to his own wish, and he does not have the authorization of the national entity to compete for any other country, as established by the IAAF rules," the president of the Cuban Athletics Federation, Alberto Juantorena was quoted by the weekly "Workers".

Juantorena confirmed that "at the Turin cup will not compete any other Cuban athletes preparing for the Russian World Cup (August) and much less (the also hurdler) Orlando Ortega, as announced by the digital site of the Italian tournament, as the boy (Ortega) is in Havana right now."

"Workers" highlighted Juantorena's astonishment when knowing Robles' announcement that he was to run again in Turin, after a long time away from the track.

"I did not plan to retire for ever. I had problems with the femur, but gradually I recovered and now I feel great. This is my first competition of the year. I resumed my training in Havana and I feel ready. I will seek to do my best," the hurdler announced in his blog.

Robles, 26, ended up injured in the final of the 110 meters hurdles in London 2012 Olympics, and requested to leave the Cuban athletics team on January 23.

Robles is the most acknowledged Cuban hurdler who won the Olympic gold in Beijing in 2008, when he also set a world record in Ostrava, Czech Republic, with 12.87 seconds, and won the world title in the 60 meters hurdles at Qatar-2012 and the Diamond League in 2011.